Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States crossed a “very big red line” when it attacked three of his country’s nuclear sites — Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — on Saturday, June 21. Araghchi, in remarks at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Sunday, June 22, called the act an “outrageous, grave and unprecedented violation” of the United Nations’ Charter and international law, according to Al Jazeera.
The United States launched the attacks after a week of missile strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran. These started when Israel struck Tehran’s nuclear facilities on June 13. At a press conference on Sunday, June 22, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a final battle damage estimate will take some time, but initial assessments “indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.”
Iranian officials, as of Sunday morning, had not given their own estimate of the damages.
Araghchi says US ‘fully responsible’ for consequences of attack
It is the “warmongering and lawless” U.S. government that is going to be “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression,” Aragchi said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to defend Iran’s territory, sovereignty and people by all means necessary, against not just U.S. military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actions of the Israeli regime,” Araghchi said.
According to the Associated Press, Araghchi later said he would immediately fly to Russia to coordinate positions. Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry echoed Araghchi’s comments about the U.S. attacks being a “gross violation of international law.”
“We call for an immediate end to aggression and for stepping up efforts to bring the situation back onto a peaceful, diplomatic track,” the Ministry said.
Trump administration maintains it wants peace
Trump, on Truth Social Saturday night, said any retaliation by Iran “WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an interview with CBS News Sunday morning, said Iran “should choose the route of peace,” adding, “If they want to do something else, they’re incredibly vulnerable.”
“The president wants to resolve this diplomatically and peacefully. He gave them the chance to do that,” Rubio said. He accused Iranian officials of playing games and using delay tactics in negotiations with the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also said the United States does not seek war.
Iran has previously said that its nuclear sites are peaceful. While U.S. intelligence agencies determined Iran isn’t trying to build a nuclear weapon, Israel said it is — an assertion President Donald Trump agrees with. In the annual threat assessment to Congress, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon,” putting her at odds with the president who nominated her for the position.
Following the attacks on the nuclear sites, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a statement that the agency still plans on continuing its work. “This organization has put the necessary measures, including legal action, on its agenda to defend the rights of the noble Iranian nation,” the statement reads.
What has Israel said?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes on Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan were done in full coordination between him and Trump. Once the operation was finished, Netanyahu said, Trump called to congratulate him.
“I thank him from the bottom of my heart,” Netanyahu said. Iran’s nuclear program, Netanyahu said, “endangered the peace of the entire world.”